Connection unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11879372-B2
Application number	US-202217893927-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 23, 2022
Priority date	Aug 24, 2021
Publication date	Jan 23, 2024
Grant date	Jan 23, 2024

Abstract

A connection unit for connecting an electrical supply line to an exhaust gas heater of an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine includes an electrically conductive connection element. The connection element has a heater connection region in a first end region and a supply line connection region in a second end region. A carrier has a receiving opening, wherein the connection element is arranged and has a support region. A first insulating element is arranged in the opening and surrounds the support region. A second insulating element is arranged on a first end face of the carrier. The connection element is supported with respect to the first end face via the second insulating element. A third insulating element is arranged on a second end face of the carrier. The connection element is supported with respect to this second end face via the third insulating element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connection unit for connecting an electrical supply line to an exhaust gas heater of an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, the connection unit comprising:
a connection element defining a longitudinal axis (L) and being elongated along said longitudinal axis (L);
said connection element being electrically conductive and having first and second axial end regions;
said connection element having an exhaust gas heating connection region in said first axial end region and having a connection region for said electrical supply line in said second axial end region;
a connection element carrier having a first end face and a second end face, said first end face facing toward said first axial end region of said connection element and facing away from said second axial end face, said second end face facing toward said second axial end region of said connection element and facing away from said first axial end face, said connection element carrier defining a connection element receiving opening extending between said first end face and said second end face for accommodating said connection element therein;
said connection element having a support region lying between said first and second axial end regions;
a first insulating element arranged in said connection element receiving opening, said first insulating element being configured as an insulating sleeve surrounding said support region;
a second insulating element arranged on said first end face;
said connection element being supported axially with respect to said first end face of said connection element carrier via said second insulating element;
a third insulating element arranged on said second end face of said connection element carrier;
said connection element being supported axially with respect to said second end face of said connection element carrier via said third insulating element;
said first insulating element, said second insulating element and said third insulating element being configured as separate components; and,
an axial gap being formed between said first insulating element and at least one insulating element of said second insulating element and said third insulating element.

2. The connection unit of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following applies:
i) said second insulating element is configured as an insulating washer; and,
ii) said third insulating element is configured as an insulating washer.

3. The connection unit of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following applies:
i) an axial extension of said first insulating element is less than an axial distance of said second insulating element to said third insulating element; and,
ii) an axial extension length of said first insulating element is less than an axial extension length of said connection element receiving opening.

4. The connection unit of claim 1 , further comprising first and second abutment arrangements; and, said connection element being axially supported on said second insulating element via said first abutment arrangement and being axially supported on said third insulating element via said second abutment arrangement.

5. The connection unit of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the following applies:
i) one abutment arrangement of said first abutment arrangement and said second abutment arrangement includes an abutment protrusion fixedly provided on said connection element so as to project radially outwardly; and,
ii) one abutment arrangement of said first and second abutment arrangements includes an abutment element coupled to said connection element in an axially displaceable manner with respect thereto.

6. The connection unit of claim 5 , wherein said abutment element is threadably coupled to said connection element.

7. The connection unit of claim 4 , wherein at least one abutment arrangement of said first abutment arrangement and said second abutment arrangement includes at least one axially elastic support element in a support path between said connection element and said connection element carrier.

8. The connection unit of claim 7 , wherein said at least one axially elastic support element is configured as a disc spring or corrugated spring.

9. The connection unit of claim 1 , further comprising a centering protrusion surrounding said connection element receiving opening on said first axial end face of said connection element carrier.

10. The connection unit of claim 9 , wherein said second insulating element is axially supported on said centering protrusion.

11. The connection unit of claim 1 , further comprising a supply line connection element coupled or couplable to said connection element in said supply line connection region.

12. The connection unit of claim 11 , further comprising a form-fit positioning formation for holding said supply line connection element in a predetermined position about said longitudinal axis (L) with respect to said supply line connection region.

13. The connection unit of claim 1 , wherein said connection element is held in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to said connection element carrier via at least one of a friction fit and a form fit.

14. An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, the exhaust system comprising:
an exhaust gas routing element having an outer wall defining an exhaust gas flow space;
an exhaust gas heater arranged in said exhaust gas flow space;
at least one connection unit fixed to said outer wall;
said connection unit including:
a connection element defining a longitudinal axis (L) and being elongated along said longitudinal axis (L);
said connection element being electrically conductive and having first and second axial end regions;
said connection element having an exhaust gas heating connection region in said first axial end region and having a connection region for said electrical supply line in said second axial end region;
a connection element carrier having a first end face and a second end face, said first end face facing toward said first axial end region of said connection element and facing away from said second axial end face, said second end face facing toward said second axial end region of said connection element and facing away from said first axial end face, said connection element carrier defining a connection element receiving opening extending between said first end face and said second end face for accommodating said connection element therein;
said connection element having a support region lying between said first and second axial end regions;
a first insulating element arranged in said connection element receiving opening, said first insulating element being configured as an insulating sleeve surrounding said support region;
a second insulating element arranged on said first end face;
said connection element being supported axially with respect to said first end face of said connection element carrier via said second insulating element;
a third insulating element arranged on said second end face of said connection element carrier;
said connection element being supported axially with respect to said second end face of said connection element carrier via said third insulating element;
said first insulating element, said second insulating element and said third insulating element being configured as separate components;
an axial gap being formed between said first insulating element and at least one insulating element of said second insulating element and said third insulating element; and,
said exhaust gas heater connection region of said at least one connection unit being electrically conductively connected to sai

Assignees

• Purem GmbH

Inventors

• Hammer Jochen
• Brenner Holger

Classifications

• F01N3/2013 Primary

  using electric or magnetic heating means · CPC title

• F01N2240/16

  an electric heater, i.e. a resistance heater · CPC title

• F01N2260/20

  for heat or sound protection, e.g. using a shield or specially shaped outer surface of exhaust device · CPC title

• F01N2450/16

  by using threaded joints · CPC title

• F01N3/027 Primary

  using electric or magnetic heating means · CPC title